Vodafone Group Public Limited (NASDAQ:VOD – Get Rating) received an average recommendation of “Buy” from the fourteen rating agencies that currently cover the business, MarketBeat reports. Five research analysts rated the stock with a hold rating and five gave the company a buy rating. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the past year is $165.25.

A number of research companies have recently commented on VOD. Citigroup began covering shares of Vodafone Group Public in a report on Wednesday, May 18. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Barclays cut its price target on Vodafone Group Public shares from 155 GBX ($1.95) to 150 GBX ($1.89) in a Wednesday May 18 report. StockNews.com took over coverage of Vodafone Group Public shares in a Thursday, March 31 research report. They have placed a “holding” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Vodafone Group Public from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a Thursday, May 12 research report. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered its price target on Vodafone Group Public shares from GBX 150 ($1.89) to GBX 140 ($1.76) in a Wednesday, May 18 research report.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently changed their positions in VOD. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its stake in Vodafone Group Public shares by 132.1% in Q1. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 49,859 shares of the mobile operator valued at $829,000 after buying 28,378 additional shares last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its equity stake in Vodafone Group Public by 5.5% in Q1. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 22,303 shares of the mobile operator valued at $371,000 after buying 1,156 additional shares last quarter. Capital International Investors bought a new equity stake in Vodafone Group Public in Q1 worth approximately $14,928,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its position in Vodafone Group Public shares by 251.4% in the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 348,522 shares of the mobile operator worth $5,792,000 after buying an additional 249,329 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gabelli Funds LLC increased its position in Vodafone Group Public shares by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 758,200 shares of the mobile operator worth $12,601,000 after buying an additional 8,900 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors hold 9.07% of the company’s shares.

NASDAQ VOD shares opened at $16.01 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt ratio of 1.02. Vodafone Group Public has a 1-year minimum of $14.42 and a 1-year maximum of $19.05. The company’s 50-day moving average is $16.27 and its 200-day moving average is $16.28.

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 5. Investors of record on Monday, June 6 will receive a dividend of $0.455 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 3. This represents a yield of 9.6%.

About Vodafone Public Group (Get a rating)

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company is active in telecommunications services in Europe and internationally. The company offers mobile services that allow customers to call, text and access data; fixed telephony services, including broadband, television (TV) and voice offers; and convergence services under the GigaKombi and Vodafone One names to customers.

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